The nation will officially celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday; however, there are several MLK events across Galveston County this weekend that you should take the time to attend.

On the island, the annual King-Fest Galveston Martin Luther King Parade will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday at 29th and Church streets and will proceed south on 29th Street and end at Menard Park, 2222 28th St., in Galveston. For information, contact Gilbert Robinson at galvestonmlkparade@yahoo.com or 409-771-8567.

The 17th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest reception will be at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Old Central Cultural Center, 2627 Ave. M, in Galveston. Admission is free. A complimentary lunch also will be provided. For information, call Tommie Boudreaux, 409-740-0454, or Ella Lewis, 409-740-4311.

The King-Fest Committee will have its annual Martin Luther King Jr. church service from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday at Avenue L Missionary Baptist Church, 2612 Ave. L, in Galveston. For information, call Manuel and Shirlyn Thomas at 409-392-6499 or 409-939-0619.

The St. Vincent’s House Unity Prayer Circle, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, will be from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday at 2817 Alfreda Houston Place (Postoffice Street) in Galveston. All religious denominations are invited. And yours truly, will be the featured soloist. For information, call 409-763-8521.

In Dickinson, the Dickinson-Bay Area branch of the NAACP will have its MLK Celebration program at 6 p.m. Sunday at New Vision Church, 2311 24th St., in Dickinson. The program will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s death. For information, call 713-320-2899.

Over in La Marque, the La Marque Alumni Association will present its fifth annual MLK Day festivities beginning with its parade at 10 a.m. Monday starting at La Marque High School on Vauthier Road.

The route will turn right on FM 1765, left on Bell Drive, left on Carver Street, and will end at Greater Bell Zion Baptist Church.

Immediately afterward, there will be a program at the church, and then vendors will be selling all sorts of wares after the program. For information, call Nakisha Paul at 409-766-0049.

The Lone Star Flight Museum at Ellington Field, in honor of MLK Day, will offer free admission for all visitors ages 17 and younger from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday at 11551 Aerospace Ave. in Houston.

Admission for ages 18-64 is $25, 65 and older is $16, and military (must bring ID) will be $12.

And last but not least, there will be a Martin Luther King Jr. program “Dream Reset: Saving Every Child on Planet Earth” from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Monday at Greater St. Matthew Baptist Church, 6333 state Highway 6, in Hitchcock. Dr. Virgil Wood will be the special guest speaker. For information, call Sam Collins III at 409-256-3822.

FIREFIGHTERS MASQUERADE BALL TIX ON SALE

Make sure you get your tickets to the Bayou Vista Volunteer Fire Department’s Firefighters Masquerade Ball, which will be at 7 p.m. Jan. 20 in the reception hall at the MUD No. 12 building, 2929 state Highway 6, in Bayou Vista.

Tickets are only $50 per person and includes an appetizer buffet, dancing to music by Rock Solid Sounds and Lights featuring DJ Ernie Cormier, a silent auction, gift certificate drawing, door prizes and a surprise raffle.

Seating and tickets are limited, so get them now!

For information and tickets, call Irene Henry at 281-844-0598.

ALL WHITE PARTY

The L&G Steppers will celebrate its second anniversary with an All White Affair celebration Jan. 20 at Gulf Greyhound Park, 1000 FM 2004, in La Marque.

Dinner will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., and then the dancing will be all night until 11:30 p.m. A cash bar and vendors also will be available.

Tickets are $20 per person in advance or $25 at the door.

For information and tickets, call 281-889-2214.

OAK RIDGE BOYS

ARE COMING BACK

The Oak Ridge Boys are coming back, and if you haven’t gotten your tickets yet — you’re in luck!

Watch this discussion.Stop watching this discussion.

(0) comments

Welcome to the discussion.

Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
racist or sexually-oriented language.PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another
person will not be tolerated.Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone
or anything.Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism
that is degrading to another person.Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on
each comment to let us know of abusive posts.Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness
accounts, the history behind an article.